Nucleosomes are the basic, repeating units of eukaryotic chromatin. They consist of chromosomal DNA wrapped around special DNA-binding proteins called histones. There are many examples of non-chromosomal DNA, such as plasmids, but they do not contain nucleosomes. Nuclear import is controlled by importin proteins.

DNA is stored in loosely wound euchromatin before mitosis. During mitosis, the DNA condenses into chromosomes, which are made of heterochromatin. It becomes more dense during prophase, and stays that way until the end of mitosis. Euchromatin is more lightly packed than heterochromatin.

Mitosis follows the following sequence: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, cytokinesis. Interphase refers to the time period between mitotic divisions. During interphase, most DNA is euchromatin, but some regions remain as heterochromatin to prevent unwanted transcription; thus DNA exists as both types of chromatin during interphase, but only as heterochromatin during mitosis. Matching euchromatin to telophase is the answer, as this is a false statement.

Euchromatin is the name given to chromatin that appears lighter when viewed under a microscope. It is actually relatively decondensed chromatin that is available for active transcription. Because it is decondensed it is more accessible to RNA polymerase and, therefore, easier to transcribe. In contrast, heterochromatin is tightly wound, dense DNA that is inaccessible by RNA polymerase and is considered inactive.

Translation is the process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA transcripts and does not directly involve DNA or chromatin.

Histones are proteins that bind and package DNA. The strand of DNA is wound around histone proteins, condensing it to fit in the nucleus and acting to moderate gene expression. Chromatin is the term given to the complex of DNA associated with histones. A nucleosome is the smallest repeating unit of chromatin, formed from eight histone proteins and two loops of coiled DNA. Telomerase is an enzyme responsible for maintaining the integrity of the telomeres.

Chromatin is not present in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA; most prokaryotic DNA is circular and does not require the complex folding of eukaryotic chromatin. Chromatin exists in more compacted states than 10nm. In particular, the 30nm version is commonly recognized as heterochromatin (DNA that is not being actively transcribed). Packaging can also be more condensed during certain stages of mitosis. Nucleosomes are the smallest units of chromatin and are strands of DNA wrapped in proteins known as histones.

Patterns of methylation and acetylation of these histones have been shown to repress and activate gene expression, respectively, and are important factors in regulating gene expression and epigenetics.